Wpływy prowincji śródziemnomorskiej w młodszym paleogenie na Niżu Polskim

Abstract

INFLUENCES OF MEDITERRANEAN PROVINCE IN THE POLISH LOWLANDS IN THE PALEOGENE Summary The paper deals with influences of the Mediterranean Province in the Polish Lowlands in Late Paleogene times as shown by the results of studies on microfauna. This is the first attempt to summarize the available data on that subject with reference to modern biogeographic requirements as attempts of that type were hitherto limited to the area of the Carpathians only. The richest microfaunal assemblages have been found in core material from the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. The material from drillings in areas situated further to the north appears poorer because of influence of cold currents coming at these times from areas of Boreal province. The recorded foraminifer assemblage is compared with the coeval ones from several localities in Europe and other parts of the world. Attention is drawn to a transitional nature of foraminifer microfauna from the Eocene-Oligocene junction beds as well as ecological, especially bathymetric agents responsible for origin of . the specialized assemblage. The assemblage, characterized by the wealth of benthos and almost complete lack of plankton, appears most similar to the so-cailed Calau assemblage in the GDR and the Mandrikovka assemblage in the USSR. Our datings of the relevant strata at the Priabonian have been subsequently supported by the nannoplankton datings at the NP zones 19/20, 21 and 22 by E. Martini (1981). Very clearly shallow-water nature of the recorded microfauna appears related to formation of local shoals and even islands in result of tectonic movements of the Pyrenean phase of the Alpine orogeny. The shoals were formed at tops of rising salt diapirs in the Polish Lowlands and horst-type elevations in the foreland of the Sudety Mts. The shallow and warm water conditions are well shown by the record of nummulitids including those of characteristic species Nummulites germanicus, widely known throughout the whole North-West European Basin.